Display method and display apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided are a display method and a display apparatus capable of appropriately displaying a video on a display in a finder while considering user&#39;s convenience.In an embodiment of the invention, video data is acquired by imaging under ambient light, display data based on the video data is created, and a display video corresponding to the display data is displayed on the display in the finder. Then, in a case where intensity of the ambient light is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, lightness of the display video displayed on the display in the finder is made brighter than lightness of a first standard video or in a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than a second threshold value, the lightness of the display video displayed on the display in the finder is made darker than lightness of a second standard video.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toJapanese Patent Application No. 2020-162924, filed on Sep. 29, 2020. Theabove application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in itsentirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display method and a displayapparatus, and in particular, to a display method that displays a videoon a display in a finder and a display apparatus provided with a displayinside a finder.

2. Description of the Related Art

A user who captures a video using a digital camera or the like can setand change composition (that is, an angle of view) at the time ofimaging while viewing a video displayed on a display in a finder, forexample. The video displayed on the display in the finder may be changedin lightness.

In JP2012-39271A, brightness of external light is detected, and in acase where the brightness of the external light is equal to or greaterthan a predetermined value, γ correction is executed on a signal (imagesignal for display) of a video displayed on the display in the finderusing a gamma (γ) with an offset. According to this configuration, thevisibility of the video displayed on the display in the finder isimproved at the time of high brightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a case of setting the lightness of the video displayed on thedisplay, it is important to set the lightness in consideration of user'sconvenience, and there is a need to develop a display method and adisplay apparatus that realize such a configuration.

The invention has been accomplished in view of the above-describedsituation, and an object of the invention is to provide a display methodcapable of appropriately displaying a video on a display in a finderwhile considering user's convenience.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display apparatus forrealizing the above-described display method.

To achieve the above-described object, an aspect of the inventionprovides a display method using a display apparatus including a sensorconfigured to detect intensity of ambient light and a finder providedwith a display inside. The display method comprises an acquisition stepof acquiring video data by imaging under the ambient light, a creationstep of creating display data based on the video data, and a displaystep of displaying a display video corresponding to the display data onthe display. In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equalto or greater than a first threshold value, the creation step or thedisplay step is executed under a condition that lightness of the displayvideo displayed on the display is brighter than lightness of a firststandard video or in a case where the intensity of the ambient light isequal to or less than a second threshold value, the creation step or thedisplay step is executed under a condition that the lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display is darker than lightness of asecond standard video.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to orgreater than the first threshold value, the creation step may beexecuted under a condition that the lightness of the display videodisplayed on the display is brighter than the lightness of the firststandard video. In this case, the first standard video may be a videothat is displayed on the display corresponding to display data createdbased on video data acquired by imaging under the ambient light withintensity less than the first threshold value.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or lessthan the second threshold value, the creation step may be executed undera condition that the lightness of the display video displayed on thedisplay is darker than the lightness of the second standard video. Inthis case, the second standard video may be a video that is displayed onthe display corresponding to display data created based on video dataacquired by imaging under the ambient light with intensity exceeding thesecond threshold value.

The display video may be displayed on the display in a case where adistance between a user and the display apparatus is equal to or lessthan a predetermined distance.

The display data may indicate an output value with respect to an inputgradation value indicated by the video data, and the input gradationvalue may be defined within a numerical value range including a firstgradation value, a second gradation value, and a median value betweenthe first gradation value and the second gradation value. In this case,in the creation step, first display data and second display data thatare different in the output value with respect to the input gradationvalue closer to the first gradation value or the second gradation valuethan the median value may be created as the display data. In the displaystep, a display video corresponding to data selected based on theintensity of the ambient light between the first display data and thesecond display data may be displayed on the display.

In the creation step, correction corresponding to the intensity of theambient light may be executed on an output value with respect to aninput gradation value indicated by the video data to create the displaydata indicating a corrected output value, and a correction amount to theoutput value in the creation step may be changed depending on a distancebetween a user and the finder or lightness in the finder.

Before a usage time for which a user uses the finder reaches a set time,in the creation step, correction corresponding to the intensity of theambient light may be executed on an output value with respect to aninput gradation value indicated by the video data to create the displaydata indicating a corrected output value, and in the display step, thedisplay video corresponding to the display data indicating the correctedoutput value may be displayed on the display. After the usage timereaches the set time, in the creation step, uncorrected display dataindicating the output value on which the correction is not executed maybe created, and in the display step, the display video corresponding tothe uncorrected display data may be displayed on the display.

In the creation step, correction corresponding to the intensity of theambient light may be executed on an output value with respect to aninput gradation value indicated by the video data to create the displaydata indicating a corrected output value, and uncorrected display dataindicating the output value on which the correction is not executed maybe created. In this case, in the display step, the display videocorresponding to the display data indicating the corrected output valueand the display video corresponding to the uncorrected display data maybe displayed on the display together.

The video data may indicate an input gradation value of each portion ofan angle of view at the time of imaging. In a case where the intensityof the ambient light is equal to or greater than the first thresholdvalue, the creation step may be executed under a condition that thelightness of the display video displayed on the display is brighter thanthe lightness of the first standard video. In a case where a firstgradation portion in the angle of view where the input gradation valueis equal to or less than a first reference value has a predeterminedwidth or more, in the creation step, first gradation correction forincreasing an output value with respect to the input gradation value ofthe first gradation portion may be executed to create the display data.In this case, a correction amount in the first gradation correction maybe greater as a difference between the input gradation value of thefirst gradation portion and the first reference value is greater.

The video data may indicate an input gradation value of each portion ofan angle of view at the time of imaging. In a case where the intensityof the ambient light is equal to or less than the second thresholdvalue, the creation step may be executed under a condition that thelightness of the display video displayed on the display is darker thanthe lightness of the second standard video. In a case where a secondgradation portion in the angle of view where the input gradation valueis equal to or greater than a second reference value has a predeterminedwidth or more, in the creation step, second gradation correction fordecreasing an output value with respect to the input gradation value ofthe second gradation portion may be executed to create the display data.In this case, a correction amount in the second gradation correction maybe greater as a difference between the input gradation value of thesecond gradation portion and the second reference value is greater.

To achieve the above-described object, another aspect of the inventionprovides a display apparatus comprising a processor, a sensor configuredto detect intensity of ambient light, and a finder provided with adisplay inside. The processor is configured to acquire video data byimaging under the ambient light, create display data based on the videodata, and display a display video corresponding to the display data onthe display. Then, the processor is configured to make lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display brighter than lightness of afirst standard video in a case where the intensity of the ambient lightis equal to or greater than a first threshold value or the processor isconfigured to make the lightness of the display video displayed on thedisplay darker than lightness of a second standard video in a case wherethe intensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than a secondthreshold value.

To achieve the above-described object, still another aspect of theinvention provides a display method using a display apparatus includinga finder provided with a display inside. The display method comprises anacquisition step of acquiring first video data by imaging, a creationstep of creating a plurality of pieces of second video data indicatingdifferent gradation values based on the first video data, a display stepof displaying a plurality of display videos corresponding to theplurality of pieces of second video data on the display, a reminder stepof reminding a user of usage of the finder in a case of displaying theplurality of display videos on the display, and a storage step ofstoring the second video data corresponding to a display video selectedby the user from among the plurality of display videos, in a storagedevice.

The plurality of pieces of second video data may include second videodata in which correction is executed on a gradation value indicated bythe first video data. In this case, in the creation step, the secondvideo data in which first gradation correction is executed on agradation value equal to or less than a first reference value in thefirst video data and the second video data in which second gradationcorrection is executed on a gradation value equal to or greater than asecond reference value in the first video data may be created. In thedisplay step, a display video corresponding to the second video data onwhich the first gradation correction is executed and a display videocorresponding to the second video data on which the second gradationcorrection is executed may be displayed in parallel on the display.

In a case where one of the first gradation correction and the secondgradation correction is first correction, and the other gradationcorrection is second correction, the creation step may include a firstcreation step and a second creation step, and the display step mayinclude a first display step and a second display step. In the firstcreation step, two or more pieces of second-A video data on which aplurality of the first corrections with different correction amounts areexecuted may be created. In the first display step, two or more displayvideos corresponding to the two or more pieces of second-A video datamay be displayed on the display. In the second creation step, two ormore pieces of second-B video data on which the first correctionexecuted in creating the second-A video data corresponding to thedisplay video selected in the first display step and a plurality of thesecond corrections with different correction amounts are executed may becreated. In the second display step, two or more display videoscorresponding to the two or more pieces of second-B video data may bedisplayed on the display, and in the storage step, the second-B videodata corresponding to the display video selected in the second displaystep may be stored in the storage device.

In the acquisition step, a plurality of pieces of the first video datawith different exposure conditions may be acquired, and in the displaystep, a plurality of the display videos based on the plurality of piecesof first video data with different exposure conditions may be displayedon the display together.

In the display step, different portions where a gradation value isdifferent between the plurality of pieces of second video data in thedisplay videos may be displayed on the display on a magnified scale.

In the display step, the different portions designated by the user maybe displayed on the display on a magnified scale.

The display video may be displayed on the display in a case where adistance between a user and the display apparatus is equal to or lessthan a predetermined distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the appearance of a display apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the display apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video creation unitaccording to a first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a video display flow in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure of a creation step in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between aninput gradation value and an output value in γ correction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of first gradation correction.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the first gradationcorrection.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of second gradation correction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the second gradationcorrection.

FIG. 11 is a diagram (first view) showing an example of a display videodisplayed on a display.

FIG. 12 is a diagram (second view) showing an example of a display videodisplayed on the display.

FIG. 13 is a diagram (third view) showing an example of a display videodisplayed on the display.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship betweenintensity of ambient light and a correction amount in the firstgradation correction.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between theintensity of ambient light and a correction amount in the secondgradation correction.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing change in correction amount in the firstgradation correction after a usage time of a finder reaches a set time.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing change in correction amount in the secondgradation correction after the usage time of the finder reaches the settime.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the display on which a display video onwhich correction is executed and a display video on which correction isnot executed are displayed simultaneously.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a case of changing output brightness in abright environment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a case of changing output brightness in adark environment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the configuration of a video creation unitaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a video display flow in the secondembodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the display on which a plurality of displayvideos are displayed.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing another example of a display form of adisplay video on the display.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a flow of another mode regarding a videodisplay flow in the second embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the display on which a different portion inthe display video is displayed on a magnified scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a plurality of preferred embodiments (first embodiment andsecond embodiment) of the invention will be described in detailreferring to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodimentsdescribed below are merely examples for ease of understanding of theinvention, and are not intended to limit the invention. That is, theinvention can be modified or improved from the embodiments describedbelow without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theinvention includes its equivalents.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the invention relates to a display method using adisplay apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The display apparatusaccording to the first embodiment is a device that displays a video of asubject during imaging, and is configured with an imaging apparatus 10,such as a digital camera. In the specification, the “video” includes astatic image and a video.

Configuration of Imaging Apparatus in First Embodiment

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the imaging apparatus 10 comprises animaging lens 12, a stop 16, a shutter 18, an imaging element 20, a reardisplay 22, an operating unit 24, a finder 30, a processor 40, aninternal memory 50, and the like.

The imaging apparatus 10 is a lens integrated type model or a lensinterchangeable type model, and performs imaging at an angle of viewcorresponding to the imaging lens 12. During imaging, light transmittedthrough the imaging lens 12 is incident on the imaging element 20. Theamount of light incident on the imaging element 20 is controlled byadjusting an F number of the stop 16. An exposure time at the time ofimaging is controlled by adjusting a shutter speed of the shutter 18.Exposure conditions, such as the F number, the shutter speed, and ISOsensitivity, are controlled by the processor 40.

The imaging element 20 is an image sensor having color filters of threecolors of Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) in the embodiment. Note that thecolor filters are not always necessary elements. The imaging element 20can be configured with a charged coupled device (CCD), a complementarymetal oxide semiconductor image sensor (CMOS), an organic imagingelement, or the like. The imaging element 20 receives light (not limitedto visible light) from the subject, converts an image of received lightinto a video signal as an electrical signal, and outputs the videosignal.

The rear display 22 is provided on a rear surface of the imagingapparatus 10, displays a display video and various kinds of information,and displays a live view image as a display video during imaging, forexample. The live view image is a real-time image of the subject duringimaging.

The operating unit 24 is provided on an outer surface of the imagingapparatus 10 and receives a user's operation. As shown in FIG. 2 , theoperating unit 24 includes a release button 25, a cross key type or acontrol wheel type select button 26, a touch panel 27 provided on therear display 22, and the like. The release button 25 is pressed in acase where the user gives an instruction to store a display video duringimaging. The select button 26 and the touch panel 27 are operated, forexample, in a case where the user switches a display video, selects adisplay video, designates a portion of a display video, or the like.

The finder 30 is a look-in type finder in which the user looks toconfirm an angle of view or the like during imaging, and in detail, isan electronic view finder (EVF). The finder 30 may be a hybrid typefinder that can switch between a mode of an optical view finder (OVF)and a mode of an EVF. The finder 30 may be a finder incorporated in theimaging apparatus 10 or may be an external finder that is attachably anddetachably connected to a connection portion 14 (hot shoe) provided inan upper portion of the imaging apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the finder 30 comprises a display 31, anobservation optical system 32, and an eyepiece frame 33.

The display 31 is disposed inside the finder 30, and a display video isdisplayed on the display 31. The display 31 is configured with, forexample, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP),an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, a light emitting diode(LED) display, or an electronic paper. The display 31 may be a displaycomprising a backlight. In this case, lightness of each portion of thedisplay 31, that is, lightness of each portion in a display video can bechanged by adjusting the brightness of the backlight for each pixel.

The observation optical system 32 is a lens or the like that is disposedbetween the display 31 and the eyepiece frame 33 to magnify a video orthe like displayed on the display 31.

The eyepiece frame 33 is a frame body that surrounds a look-in windowprovided on the rear surface of the imaging apparatus 10. In looking inthe inside (that is, the display 31) of the finder 30, the userapproaches the imaging apparatus 10 and closely attaches a peripheralportion of an eye to the eyepiece frame 33. With this, the periphery ofthe eye of the user is surrounded by the eyepiece frame 33, and leakageof light from the outside of the imaging apparatus 10 into the finder 30is suppressed. A leakage amount of light into the finder 30 changesdepending on a distance between the user and the finder 30, that is, adegree of close attachment of a face of the user and the eyepiece frame33.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a sensor 34 is provided at a predetermined place ofthe eyepiece frame 33 or near the eyepiece frame 33. The sensor 34 isconfigured with a known illuminance sensor, a proximity sensor, or thelike, detects usage of the finder 30 by the user, and specifically,outputs a signal corresponding to the distance between the user and thefinder 30.

The sensor 34 can be used as a sensor that detects intensity of light(hereinafter, referred to as ambient light) in an imaging environment.The ambient light includes light in the whole imaging environment inwhich the imaging apparatus 10 is present, such as light emitted fromthe subject and light illuminating the periphery of the imagingapparatus 10.

The sensor that detects the ambient light is not limited to the sensor34 described above, and may be, for example, an image sensor configuringthe imaging element 20. That is, the intensity of the ambient light maybe detected from an exposure amount detected by the image sensor, andspecifically, an integrated value of an exposure amount calculated forautomatic exposure control (AE control) or auto white balance control(AWB control).

Though not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the finder 30 may further comprise alight-measuring sensor that measures lightness (intensity of light)inside the finder 30 or a distance-measuring sensor that measures thedistance between the user and the finder 30.

The processor 40 is configured to control each unit of the imagingapparatus 10 and execute various kinds of processing including imaging,storage of a video, and display of a video. The processor 40 may beconfigured with one or a plurality of pieces of hardware equipment, forexample, a central processing unit (CPU), a field programmable gatearray (FPGA), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), amicro-processing unit (MPU), or other integrated circuits (ICs).Alternatively, the processor 40 may be configured by combining such ICs.The processor 40 may configure all functions of the processor 40 withone integrated circuit (IC) chip, as represented by system on chip(SoC). The hardware configuration of the processor 40 described abovemay be realized by an electric circuit (circuitry), in which circuitelements, such as semiconductor elements, are combined.

The internal memory 50 is an example of a storage device, and a programthat is executed by the processor 40 is stored in the internal memory50. As the program is executed by the processor 40, as shown in FIG. 2 ,the processor 40 functions as a control processing unit 42 and a videocreation unit 44.

A display data creation circuit 47 may be provided inside a module ofthe rear display 22 or the display 31. The display data creation circuit47 may be provided both inside and outside (inside a housing of theimaging apparatus 10) the module described above.

The program that is executed by the processor 40 is not always stored inthe internal memory 50, and may be stored in a memory card 52 that is anexample of a storage device. The memory card 52 is inserted into a cardthrottle (not shown) provided in the imaging apparatus 10 and used.

The control processing unit 42 is configured to control each unit of theimaging apparatus 10 in response to a user's operation through theoperating unit 24 or conforming to a predetermined control rule. Forexample, the control processing unit 42 performs control such that thestop 16, the shutter 18, and the imaging element 20 automatically changeexposure conditions corresponding to the intensity of the ambient light.In a case where the release button 25 is pressed, the control processingunit 42 stores data (video data) of a video captured at that time in thestorage device, such as the internal memory 50 or the memory card 52.

The control processing unit 42 is configured to display a display videoon the rear display 22 or the display 31 during imaging. In the firstembodiment, the control processing unit 42 displays, based on displaydata created by the video creation unit 44, a display videocorresponding to the display data. In this case, the control processingunit 42 decides any of the rear display 22 and the display 31 on whichthe display video is displayed. For example, in a case where the sensor34 described above detects that a distance between the user and theimaging apparatus 10 is equal to or less than a predetermined distance(in detail, the face of the user is at a position in contact with theeyepiece frame 33), the control processing unit 42 displays the displayvideo on the display 31.

The video creation unit 44 is configured to acquire video data byimaging under the ambient light, and in the first embodiment, createdisplay data from the acquired video data. As shown in FIG. 3 , thevideo creation unit 44 according to the first embodiment has ananalog/digital (A/D) conversion circuit 45, a video data acquisitioncircuit 46, and a display data creation circuit 47.

The A/D conversion circuit 45 converts the video signal output from theimaging element 20 from the analog signal into a digital signal. Thevideo data acquisition circuit 46 executes image processing, such as γcorrection and white balance correction, on the converted digitalsignal, and compresses a processed signal in a predetermined standard toacquire video data. The video data is data indicating a gradation valueof each portion of the angle of view at the time of imaging, and indetail, gradation values of three colors of RGB for each pixel. In thefirst embodiment, the gradation value indicated by the video data isreferred to as an “input gradation value”. The input gradation value isdefined within a numerical value range including a lower limit value asa first gradation value, an upper limit value as a second gradationvalue, and a median value positioned between the lower limit value andthe upper limit value, and is defined in a numerical value range of 0 to255, for example, in a case where the video data is data in an eight-bitformat.

The display data creation circuit 47 creates display data based on thevideo data, and in detail, executes correction on an output value withrespect to the input gradation value indicated by the video data tocreate display data. The display data is data indicating the outputvalue for each pixel. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specificallydescribed, the output value indicated by the display data is a gradationvalue (output gradation value) that is defined within the same numericalvalue range as the input gradation value.

In the first embodiment, the correction that is executed by the displaydata creation circuit 47 to create the display data is correctiondifferent from normal γ correction, and is correction depending on theintensity of the ambient light. Hereinafter, the correctioncorresponding to the intensity of the ambient light that is executed bythe display data creation circuit 47 is simply referred to as“correction”.

The correction is processing of changing the output value with respectto the input gradation value from a value in a case where normal γcorrection is executed, and includes first gradation correction andsecond gradation correction. The display data creation circuit 47executes the correction on the output value to create display dataindicating a corrected output value.

In the first embodiment, as described above, in a case where thedistance between the user and the imaging apparatus 10 is equal to orless than the predetermined distance, the display video corresponding tothe display data is displayed on the display 31. The lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display 31 in this case is lightnesscorresponding to the output value indicated by the display data. Thelightness is the physical brightness in each portion of the displayvideo and is decided depending on the output value. The display video isbrighter as the output value is greater.

Video Display Flow in First Embodiment

Next, a video display flow in the first embodiment will be described.The video display flow is executed while the user performs imaging usingthe imaging apparatus 10. In the video display flow in the firstembodiment, a video (live view image) of the subject being imaged can bedisplayed as a display video on the display 31 by a display methodaccording to the first embodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the video display flow in the first embodimentincludes an acquisition step S001, a light detection step S002, adetermination step S003, a creation step S004, and a display step S005.The steps are executed in order by the processor 40.

In the acquisition step S001, video data is acquired by imaging underambient light. In detail, the video creation unit 44 acquires video databased on a video signal output from the imaging element 20 as neededduring imaging.

In the light detection step S002, the intensity of the ambient light isdetected by the sensor 34, the image sensor configuring the imagingelement 20, or the like (hereinafter, referred to as a sensor for lightdetection) during imaging.

In the determination step S003, determination is made regarding amagnitude relationship between the intensity of the ambient lightdetected by the sensor for light detection and two threshold values(first threshold value and second threshold value). Specifically,determination is made whether or not the intensity of the ambient lightis equal to or greater than the first threshold value or whether or notthe intensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than the secondthreshold value. Each of the first threshold value and the secondthreshold value is a value as a determination criterion for executingthe correction in the creation step S004, and is decided depending onthe lightness of the display 31. The lightness of the display 31 islightness (specifically, rated output) determined as the equipmentspecification of the display 31 or lightness set in advance by the useras a usage condition of the display 31.

The first threshold value is, for example, a value corresponding tolightness exceeding the lightness of the display 31, and the secondthreshold value is, for example, a value corresponding to lightnesssufficiently lower than the lightness of the display 31.

In the creation step S004, display data is created based on the videodata.

In the display step S005, a display video corresponding to the createddisplay data is displayed on the display 31. In the first embodiment, ina case where the distance between the user and the imaging apparatus 10is equal to or less than the predetermined distance, the display stepS005 is executed, and the display video is displayed on the display 31.With this, it is possible to display a video on the display 31efficiently depending on the distance between the user and the imagingapparatus 10.

A series of Steps S001 to S005 described above are repeatedly executedduring imaging. Then, in a case where the user presses the releasebutton 25 during the execution of the display step S005, video dataindicating a video at that time is stored in the storage device, such asthe internal memory 50 or the memory card 52, by the control processingunit 42.

A procedure of the creation step S004 will be described in detailreferring to FIG. 5 .

In the creation step S004, as shown in FIG. 5 , an output value withrespect to an input gradation value indicated by the video data acquiredin S001 is decided.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is within a normalrange, a value obtained by executing γ correction on the input gradationvalue is the output value. In the first embodiment, γ correction isexecuted such that the input gradation value and the output value have alinear relationship shown in FIG. 6 .

In the first embodiment, correction is executed on the output valuedepending on a magnitude relationship between the intensity of theambient light and the threshold values, and display data correspondingto the intensity of the ambient light is created. Specifically, in acase where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or greaterthan the first threshold value (S021), the display data is created (thecreation step is executed) under a condition that lightness of a displayvideo displayed on the display 31 is brighter than lightness of a firststandard video. In a case where the intensity of the ambient light isequal to or less than the second threshold value (S024), the displaydata is created (the creation step is executed) under a condition thatthe lightness of the display video displayed on the display 31 is darkerthan lightness of a second standard video.

Here, the first standard video and the second standard video are displayvideos based on video data acquired by imaging under the ambient lightwith intensity exceeding the second threshold value and intensity lessthan the first threshold value, respectively. That is, the firststandard video and the second standard video are videos based on videodata acquired in a case where the intensity of the ambient light iswithin the normal range, and in detail, are videos that are displayed onthe display 31 corresponding to display data created based on the videodata. The first standard video and the second standard video may bevideos with identical lightness or may be videos with differentlightness.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to orgreater than the first threshold value or is equal to or less than thesecond threshold value, the correction is executed in the creation stepS004 (S023, S026), and display data indicating a corrected output valueis created (S028).

On the other hand, in a case where the intensity of the ambient lightexceeds the second threshold value and is less than the first thresholdvalue, uncorrected display data indicating an output value on which thecorrection is not executed (that is, the output value on which only theγ correction is executed) is created (S027). A video displayed on thedisplay 31 corresponding to the uncorrected display data created in StepS027 can be used as the first standard video and the second standardvideo described above.

In the first embodiment, the correction is correction on the displayvideo displayed on the display 31, and is not correction on the videodata in the acquisition step S001. Accordingly, the correction in thefirst embodiment is not reflected in the video data stored in thestorage device, such as the memory card 52 or the internal memory 50.

The correction in the first embodiment includes first gradationcorrection and second gradation correction. The first gradationcorrection is executed in a case where the intensity of the ambientlight is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, and asshown in FIG. 7 , is correction for increasing an output value withrespect to an input gradation value of a first gradation portion morethan a γ corrected output value. The first gradation portion is aportion in the angle of view at the time of imaging where the inputgradation value is equal to or less than a first reference value, thatis, a low gradation portion (dark portion). The first reference value (avalue Va in FIG. 7 ) is set to a numerical value corresponding to ⅓ to ¼of a median value in a numerical value range (for example, 0 to 255)defining the input gradation value.

With the first gradation correction, the output value of the firstgradation portion is corrected from a value on a broken line to a valueon a solid line in FIG. 7 , and is a gradation value higher than thevalue after the γ-correction. That is, the lightness of the firstgradation portion after the first gradation correction is executedappears brighter than the lightness of the display video in a case wherethe correction is not executed, that is, the first standard video.

With the first gradation correction, for example, in a case where theuser looks in the finder 30 during imaging under bright ambient light,the user can more easily view the first gradation portion while the eyeof the user is adapted to darkness. That is, in the display videodisplayed on the display 31, a portion that is hardly viewed since the γcorrected output value falls below a given value (a value Ga in FIG. 7), specifically, a portion indicated by a symbol t1 in FIG. 7 is easilyviewed by the first gradation correction. The effect is particularlyeffective in a case where the first gradation portion in the displayvideo is hardly viewed since external light is strong, such asbacklighting.

In the first embodiment, in a case where the intensity of the ambientlight is equal to or greater than the first threshold value,determination is made whether or not the first gradation portion in theangle of view has a predetermined width or more, and specifically,whether or not the number of pixels configuring the first gradationportion is equal to or greater than a predetermined number (S022).

Then, in a case where the first gradation portion has the predeterminedwidth or more, the first gradation correction is executed, and thedisplay data indicating the corrected output value is created. Withthis, in a case where the effect of the correction is effectivelyexhibited, the first gradation correction can be executed, and on thecontrary, in a case where the first gradation portion is too small andthe effect of the correction is not sufficiently obtained, the executionof the first gradation correction can be omitted.

From a viewpoint of improving the visibility of the user, it isdesirable that, as shown in FIG. 7 , a correction amount in the firstgradation correction is set to be greater as a difference between theinput gradation value of the first gradation portion and the firstreference value Va is greater. That is, as the input gradation value ofthe first gradation portion is lower, the correction amount incorrecting the output value with respect to the input gradation value ispreferably set to be greater.

In a case where the correction amount is made large, a region in thefirst gradation portion where the input gradation value is near thelower limit value appears bright in a video displayed on the display 31regardless of a region appearing dark in an actual video. As a result, adifference of brightness and darkness (contrast) in the display videodeviates from the actual video. For this reason, in consideration of abalance between the display video and the actual video, as shown in FIG.7 , in the region where the input gradation value is near the lowerlimit value, the correction amount of the first gradation correction ispreferably set to be gradually smaller as the input gradation value islower.

The invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in FIG. 8 , over theentire region of the first gradation portion including the region wherethe input gradation value is near the lower limit value, the correctionamount may be set to be greater as the difference between the inputgradation value and the first reference value Va is greater.

The second gradation correction is executed in a case where theintensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than the secondthreshold value, and as shown in FIG. 9 , is correction for decreasingan output value with respect to an input gradation value of a secondgradation portion less than the γ corrected output value. The secondgradation portion is a portion in the angle of view at the time ofimaging where the input gradation value is equal to or greater than asecond reference value, that is, a high gradation portion (brightportion). The second reference value (a value Vb in FIG. 9 ) is set to anumerical value corresponding to ⅔ to ¾ of a median value in a numericalvalue range (for example, 0 to 255) defining the input gradation value.

With the second gradation correction, the output value of the secondgradation portion is corrected from a value on a broken line and a valueon a solid line in FIG. 9 , and is a gradation value lower than a γcorrected value. That is, the lightness of the second gradation portionafter the second gradation correction is executed appears darker thanthe lightness of the display video in a case where the correction is notexecuted, that is, the second standard video. With this, for example, ina case where the user looks in the finder 30 during imaging under darkambient light, the user can more easily view the second gradationportion while the eye of the user is adapted to brightness. That is, aportion in the display video displayed on the display 31 that is hardlyviewed since the γ corrected output value exceeds a given value (in FIG.9 , a value indicated by a symbol Gb), and specifically, a portionindicated by a symbol t2 in FIG. 9 is easily viewed by the secondgradation correction.

In the first embodiment, in a case where the intensity of the ambientlight is equal to or less than the second threshold value, determinationis made whether or not the second gradation portion in the angle of viewhas a predetermined width or more, and specifically, whether or not thenumber of pixels configuring the second gradation portion is equal to orgreater than a predetermined number (S025). Then, in a case where thesecond gradation portion has the predetermined width or more, the secondgradation correction is executed, and display data indicating thecorrected output value is created. With this, in a case where the effectof the correction is effectively exhibited, the second gradationcorrection is executed, and on the contrary, in a case where the secondgradation portion is too small and the effect of the correction is notsufficiently obtained, the execution of the second gradation correctioncan be omitted.

From a viewpoint of improving the visibility of the user, it isdesirable that, as shown in FIG. 9 , a correction amount of the secondgradation correction is set to be greater as a difference between theinput gradation value of the second gradation portion and the secondreference value Vb is greater. That is, as the input gradation value ofthe second gradation portion is higher, the correction amount incorrecting the output value with respect to the input gradation value ispreferably set to be greater.

As in a case of the first gradation correction, in consideration of thebalance between the display video and the actual video, in a region inthe second gradation portion where the input gradation value is near theupper limit value, as shown in FIG. 9 , the correction amount of thesecond gradation correction is preferably set to be gradually smaller asthe input gradation value is higher.

The invention is not limited thereto, and as shown in FIG. 10 , over theentire region of the second gradation portion including the region wherethe input gradation value is near the upper limit value, the correctionamount may be set to be greater as the difference between the inputgradation value and the second reference value Vb is greater.

The video display flow in the first embodiment will be described againreferring to FIGS. 11 to 13 . FIGS. 11 to 13 show an example of adisplay video displayed on the display 31, and the video shown in eachdrawing is a video obtained by imaging the same subject. The displayvideo shown in FIG. 11 is a video captured in a case where the intensityof the ambient light is within the normal range, and corresponds to thefirst standard video and the second standard video. In the video shownin each drawing, a first gradation portion and a second gradationportion are present. For example, in each drawing, a portion positionedinside a roof of a building and a portion positioned on a deep side ofthe inside of the building corresponds to the first gradation portion (aportion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 12 ), and a cloud positionedbeside the building corresponds to the second gradation portion (aportion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. 13 ).

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is within the normalrange, the display video shown in FIG. 11 , that is, the display video(the first standard video or the second standard video) with lightnesscorresponding to the γ corrected output value is displayed on thedisplay 31 according to the uncorrected display data.

On the other hand, in a case where the intensity of the ambient light isequal to or greater than the first threshold value (hereinafter,referred to as a bright environment), the display data indicating the γcorrected output value, that is, the uncorrected display data istemporarily created, and the display video corresponding to theuncorrected display data is displayed on the display 31. In this case,in a case where the user looks in the finder 30, the first gradationportion (dark portion) in the display video is hardly viewed. This isbecause, in a case where the user looks in the finder 30 in the brightenvironment, the pupil of the user is closed immediately afterward, andthe first gradation portion is hardly identified until the eye of theuser is adapted to darkness.

For this reason, in the bright environment, the lightness of the displayvideo displayed on the display 31 is brighter than the lightness of thefirst standard video. Specifically, in the creation step, the correction(in detail, first gradation correction) is executed on the γ correctedoutput value, and display data indicating the corrected output value iscreated. Thereafter, in the display step, a display video correspondingto the display data indicating the corrected output value, that is, adisplay video in which the first gradation portion has higher gradationis displayed on the display 31. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12 , thelightness of the first gradation portion (in FIG. 12 , a portionsurrounded by a broken line) in the display video is brighter than thelightness of the first gradation portion in the first standard video,and the first gradation portion is easily viewed by the user.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or lessthan the second threshold value (hereinafter, referred to as a darkenvironment), uncorrected display data indicating the γ corrected outputvalue is temporarily created, and a display video corresponding to theuncorrected display data is displayed on the display 31. In this case,in a case where the user looks in the finder 30, the second gradationportion (bright portion) of the display video is hardly viewed. This isbecause, in a case where the user looks in the finder 30 in the darkenvironment, the pupil of the user is opened immediately afterward, andthe second gradation portion is hardly identified until the eye of theuser is adapted to brightness.

For this reason, in the dark environment, the lightness of the displayvideo displayed on the display 31 is set to be darker than the lightnessof the second standard video. Specifically, in the creation step, thecorrection (in detail, the second gradation correction)) is executed onthe γ corrected gradation value, and display data indicating thecorrected output value is created. Thereafter, in the display step, adisplay video corresponding to the display data indicating the correctedoutput value, that is, a display video in which the second gradationportion has lower gradation is displayed on the display 31. As a result,as shown in FIG. 13 , the lightness of the second gradation portion (inFIG. 13 , a portion surrounded by a broken line) in the display video isdarker than the lightness of the second gradation portion in the secondstandard video, and the second gradation portion is easily viewed by theuser.

It is preferable that the correction amount (that is, the correctionamount to the output value) in executing the correction in the creationstep is changed depending on an amount of light leaking into the finder30. This is because, in a case where a large amount of light enters thefinder 30, the visibility of the display 31 is degraded. Specifically,in the correction, the distance between the user and the finder 30 ismeasured by a distance-measuring sensor or the like or the lightness inthe finder 30 is measured by a light-measuring sensor or the like. Ameasurement result is a parameter for determining the leakage amount oflight into the finder 30, and thus, the correction amount is preferablyset corresponding to the parameter. With this, it is possible to adjustthe lightness of the display video (in particular, the first gradationportion and the second gradation portion) displayed on the display 31 tobe more easily viewed while considering the leakage amount of light intothe finder 30.

A correspondence relationship between the parameter and the correctionamount may be made into a mathematical expression in advance and storedas a conversion expression or may be stored as data in a format of aconversion table and referred to at the time of correction execution.

The correction amount may be changed depending on the intensity of theambient light, and strictly, depending on intensity detected by a sensorfor light detection. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 , as thedifference between the intensity of the ambient light and the firstthreshold value is greater, the correction amount in the first gradationcorrection may be set to be greater. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing acorrespondence relationship between a correction amount and intensity oflight in a case where a correction amount in executing the firstgradation correction on a certain output value is changed depending onthe intensity of the ambient light.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 15 , as the difference between the intensityof the ambient light and the second threshold value is greater, thecorrection amount in the second gradation correction may be set to begreater. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationshipbetween a correction amount and intensity of light in a case where acorrection amount in executing the second gradation correction on acertain output value is changed depending on the intensity of theambient light.

The user may set a correction amount in advance before correctionexecution. Specifically, the user may perform a setting operation (forexample, an operation to input a correction amount) through theoperating unit 24 or the like, and the video creation unit 44 of theprocessor 40 may set the correction amount in response to the settingoperation. While the correction amount in executing the correction onthe output value is generally determined depending on an imaging scene,a subject, and the like, the user may request to more clearly view aportion (for example, the first gradation portion and the secondgradation portion) in the display video. On the contrary, the user maynot care about a way of viewing the display video. In such a case, in acase where the correction amount can be set based on the settingoperation of the user, the lightness of the first gradation portion andthe second gradation portion can be adjusted corresponding to user'spreference, and user's convenience is improved.

In the first embodiment, in a case where the user starts to use thefinder 30, the processor 40 counts a usage time. The usage of the finder30 means that the user looks in the display 31 in the finder 30, and theusage time is an elapsed time from when the user starts to look in thedisplay 31. The usage time may a display time of the display video ofthe display 31 or may be a time measured by another method. In regard tothe usage time, a set time is set in advance, and a required timenecessary until the eye of the user is adapted to darkness or brightnessis set as the set time.

In the first embodiment, in a case of the bright environment or the darkenvironment, as shown in FIG. 5 , determination is made whether or notthe usage time reaches the set time (S029). Then, a display data createdin the creation step is changed, in other words, the lightness of adisplay video displayed on the display 31 in the display step is changeddepending on whether or not the usage time reaches the set time.

Specifically, before the usage time reaches the set time, in thecreation step, the correction (specifically, the first gradationcorrection or the second gradation correction) is executed on the outputvalue, and display data indicating the corrected output value iscreated. Then, in the display step, a display video corresponding to thedisplay data indicating the corrected output value is displayed on thedisplay 31.

On the other hand, after the usage time reaches the set time, in thecreation step, uncorrected display data indicating an output value (thatis, the output value after the γ correction) on which the correction isnot executed is created (S031). Then, in the display step, a displayvideo corresponding to the uncorrected display data is displayed on thedisplay 31. This is because the eye of the user is adapted to darknessor brightness when the usage time reaches the set time, and thereafter,and the lightness of the display video (in particular, the firstgradation portion and the second gradation portion) displayed on thedisplay 31 does not need to be changed any longer.

In consideration of the visibility of the video, after the usage timereaches the set time, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the display dataindicating the corrected output value may be created while graduallydecreasing the correction amount to the output value depending on theusage time. In this case, in the subsequent display step, the lightnessof the display video (in particular, the first gradation portion and thesecond gradation portion) displayed on the display 31 is graduallychanged and approaches lightness in an uncorrected state as the usagetime is longer. Finally, in the creation step, display data with thecorrection amount of 0, that is, uncorrected display data is created,and in the display step, a display video corresponding to theuncorrected display data, that is, a display video with lightnesscorresponding to the output value after the γ correction is displayed onthe display 31.

As a configuration different from the above-described configuration, forexample, in a case where the bright environment or the dark environment,in the creation step, the correction may be executed to create displaydata indicating a corrected output value, and uncorrected display datamay be created. Then, in the display step, as shown in FIG. 18 , adisplay video (in the drawing, denoted by a symbol M1) corresponding tothe display data indicating the corrected output value and a displayvideo (in the drawing, denoted by a symbol M2) corresponding to theuncorrected display data may be displayed on the display 31 together(simultaneously). In this case, the user can simultaneously view adisplay video that is easily viewed b the correction and an uncorrecteddisplay video (that is, a video reflecting video data to be stored) onthe display 31. As a result, the user can confirm that the video data isnormal data (so-called washed-out highlight or blocked-up shadow do notoccur). In this case, the fact that the user can confirm the gradationof the dark portion or the bright portion from the corrected displaydata or the uncorrected display data means that a gradation securelyremains in the video data to be stored.

In the above-described configuration, upon changing the lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display 31, as the output value, thegradation value (output gradation value) indicated by the display datais changed; however, other output values are considered. For example, asthe output value, an output value (hereinafter, referred to as outputbrightness) indicating the brightness of the backlight in the display31, that is, physical brightness may be changed. In this case, thecontrol processing unit 42 calculates output brightness from an outputgradation value indicated by display data and controls the brightness ofthe backlight for each pixel based on the calculated output brightness.

The output brightness is changed depending on the intensity of theambient light, and for example, in a case where the intensity of theambient light is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, theoutput brightness is changed from a value on a broken line to a value ona solid line in FIG. 19 , and is higher than in a case where only the γcorrection is executed. With this, in the bright environment, a portionin the display video displayed on the display 31 that is hardly viewedsince the output brightness falls below a given value (a value Ka inFIG. 19 ) only by the γ correction, that is, the first gradation portionis easily viewed.

In a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or lessthan the second threshold value, the output brightness is changed from avalue on a broken line to a value on a solid line in FIG. 20 , and islower than in a case where only the γ correction is executed. With this,in the dark environment, a portion in the display video displayed on thedisplay 31 that is hardly viewed since the output brightness exceeds agiven value (a value Kb in FIG. 20 ) only by the γ correction, that is,the second gradation portion is easily viewed.

In a case where the display 31 is configured with a liquid crystaldisplay or the like, a degree of rotation of light (polarization plane)by liquid crystal molecules may be changed to change the lightness ofthe display video displayed on the display 31.

In the first embodiment, although the correction is executed in each ofthe bright environment and the dark environment, the correction may beexecuted in either the bright environment or the dark environment. Thatis, only in a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal toor greater than the first threshold value, the output value may becorrected to create the display data indicating the corrected outputvalue in the creation step. Alternatively, only in a case where theintensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than the secondthreshold value, the output value may be corrected to create the displaydata indicating the corrected output value in the creation step.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the correction (in detail, additionalcorrection to the output value after the γ correction) is executeddepending on the intensity of the ambient light to create the displaydata. Note that, in the first embodiment, video data to be a source ofdisplay data is not corrected and is stored in the storage device whilekeeping the content as it is.

On the other hand, a form in which video data is corrected, that is, aform in which a gradation value (input gradation value) indicated byvideo data is also considered. The form is referred to as a secondembodiment, and hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described.

Hereinafter, matters of the second embodiment that are different fromthe first embodiment will be primarily described, and in the equipmentconfiguration of the second embodiment, pieces of equipment common tothe first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals asin the first embodiment. In the following description, the term “videodata is corrected” means that a gradation value indicated by video datais corrected.

Configuration of Imaging Apparatus in Second Embodiment

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, an imagingapparatus 10 is used as a display apparatus. The imaging apparatus 10according to the second embodiment is generally common to the imagingapparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, and the function of theprocessor 40 is different from the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the control processing unit 42 of theprocessor 40 reminds the user of the usage of the finder 30 indisplaying a predetermined display video on the display 31. Here,reminding of the usage of the finder 30 refers to, for example,displaying a message or the like for prompting the user to use thefinder 30 during imaging on the rear display 22. The invention is notlimited thereto, and for example, a display destination of a displayvideo may be switched from the rear display 22 to the display 31, andvideo display on the rear display 22 may be forcibly used to prompt theuser to use the finder 30.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21 , the video creation unit44 of the processor 40 includes an A/D conversion circuit 45, a firstvideo data acquisition circuit 48, and a second video data creationcircuit 49.

The first video data acquisition circuit 48 executes image processing,such as γ correction and white balance correction, on a video signalconverted into a digital signal by the A/D conversion circuit 45, andcompresses a processed signal in a predetermined standard to acquirefirst video data. That is, the first video data is the same data as thevideo data according to the first embodiment.

The second video data creation circuit 49 creates a plurality of piecesof second video data indicating different gradation values based on thefirst video data. Specifically, the second video data creation circuit49 executes partial gradation correction on the first video datamultiple times, and in more detail, executes the first gradationcorrection and the second gradation correction with different correctionamounts. With this, a plurality of pieces of second video data on whichthe correction is executed with different correction amounts arecreated.

A plurality of pieces of created second video data include at least onesecond video data on which the correction is executed, but may includesecond video data on which the correction amount is 0 (that is, thecorrection is not executed) as reference data.

In the creation of the second video data, the correction is not limitedto the correction on a part of the gradation value indicated by thefirst video data, but the correction may be executed on all gradationvalues indicated by the first video data. In this case, each of aplurality of pieces of second video data indicates a gradation value onwhich correction (specifically, γ correction or knee correction using aγ curve of a shape different from a normal one) different from thenormal γ correction is executed.

In the second embodiment, the processor 40 displays a display videocorresponding to each of a plurality of pieces of created second videodata on the display 31. The display video corresponding to each of aplurality of pieces of second video data is a video that is displayed onthe display 31 corresponding to each piece of converted data obtained byexecuting predetermined conversion processing on each piece of secondvideo data and converting each piece of second video data into data fordisplay (display data).

Video Display Flow in Second Embodiment

Next, a video display flow in the second embodiment will be described.

The video display flow in the second embodiment is executed while theuser performs imaging using the imaging apparatus 10. In the videodisplay flow in the second embodiment, a video (live view image) of asubject being imaged is displayed as a display video on the display 31by a display method according to the second embodiment of the invention.As shown in FIG. 22 , the video display flow in the second embodimentincludes an acquisition step S051, a creation step S052, a display stepS053, a reminder step S054, a selection reception step S055, and astorage step S056, and such steps are executed by the processor 40.

In the acquisition step S051, first video data is acquired by imaging.Specifically, the first video data acquisition circuit 48 of theprocessor 40 acquires first video data from a video signal output fromthe imaging element 20 as needed during imaging. In a case where theexposure conditions are changed during imaging, in the acquisition stepS051, a plurality of pieces of first video data with different exposureconditions, that is, the first video data before the change of theexposure conditions and the first video data after the change of theexposure conditions are acquired.

In the creation step S052, a plurality of pieces of second video dataindicating different gradation values are created based on the firstvideo data. Specifically, the second video data creation circuit 49 ofthe processor 40 executes correction on the first video data withdifferent correction amounts multiple times.

In more detail, a plurality of first gradation corrections are executedon a gradation value in the first video data equal to or less than thefirst reference value while changing the correction amount. Similarly, aplurality of second gradation corrections are executed on a gradationvalue in the first video data equal to or greater than the secondreference value while changing the correction amount. With this, aplurality of pieces of second video data including the second video dataon which the first gradation correction is executed and the second videodata on which the second gradation correction is executed are created.

Hereinafter, a case where the correction amount of each of the firstgradation correction and the second gradation correction is set in threestages (+1, 0, −1), and the two kinds of correction are executed withthe correction amount in each stage to create nine pieces of secondvideo data in total will be described as an example. In such a case,among the nine pieces of second video data, second video data on whichthe correction amount is 0 (that is, both the first gradation correctionand the second gradation correction are not executed) is included asreference data.

In the display step S053, a plurality of display videos (that is, ninedisplay videos) corresponding to the nine pieces of second video dataare displayed on the display 31. In the display step S053, two or moredisplay videos are displayed on the display 31 simultaneously, and forexample, as shown in FIG. 23 , the nine display videos are arranged anddisplayed in a matrix.

In FIG. 23 , for convenience of illustration, each display video isshown in a simplified manner. In the drawing, display videos on whichthe stage of the correction amount of the first gradation correction is“+1” are disposed on a first row from the top, display videos on whichthe stage of the correction amount of the first gradation correction is“0” are disposed on a second row from the top, and display videos onwhich the stage of the correction amount of the first gradationcorrection is “−0.1” are disposed on a third row from the top. Displayvideos on which the stage of the correction amount of the secondgradation correction is “+1” are disposed on the leftmost side, displayvideos on which the stage of the correction amount of the secondgradation correction is “0” are disposed at the center, and displayvideos on which the stage of the correction amount of the secondgradation correction is “−1” are disposed on the rightmost side.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in a case wherethe distance between the user and the imaging apparatus 10 is equal toor less than the predetermined distance, a display video may bedisplayed on the display 31. With this, it is possible to efficientlydisplay a display video on the display 31 corresponding to the distancebetween the user and the imaging apparatus 10.

The reminder step S054 is executed in a case where the nine displayvideos are displayed on the display 31. In the reminder step S054, forexample, a message or the like for reminding the user of usage of thefinder 30 is displayed on the rear display 22. With this, it is possibleto appropriately guide the user to look in the finder 30 and to view thedisplay 31. Then, the user can compare the nine display videos displayedon the display 31. In this case, in a case where a display videocorresponding to the second video data on which the correction amount is0 is included as a reference video among the nine display videos, theuser can compare the reference video with other display videos.

In the flow shown in FIG. 22 , although the reminder step S054 isexecuted after the display step S053, the invention is not limitedthereto, and the reminder step may be executed before the display stepor the reminder step and the display step may be executed together.

In the selection reception step S055, a user's selection operationthrough the operating unit 24 while the nine display videos aredisplayed on the display 31 is received. In the selection operation, theuser selects one video, for example, a video that clearly shows thefirst gradation portion and the second gradation portion and is mosteasily viewed, from among the nine display videos, and inputs aselection result through the select button 26 or the like.

In the storage step S056, the second video data corresponding to thedisplay video selected by the user from among the nine display videos isspecified based on the received selection operation, and the secondvideo data is stored in the internal memory 50, the memory card 52, orthe like.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the display videos(specifically, nine display videos) corresponding to a plurality ofpieces of second video data on which the correction is executed withdifferent correction amounts are displayed on the display 31 to promptthe user to use the finder 30. With this, the user can compare aplurality of display videos displayed on the display 31, and canrecognize what kind of correction makes a video most clear (in otherwords, the effect of each correction).

In a case where the nine display videos are displayed on the reardisplay 22, and in a case where the intensity of the ambient light atthat time is not appropriate (for example, external light is toostrong), there is a concern that the user cannot correctly recognize theclearness of each display video, that is, the effect of the correction.

In contrast, in the second embodiment, the nine display videos aredisplayed on the display 31 in the finder 30, and thus, it is possibleto exclude the influence of the ambient light on each display video.With this, the user can appropriately confirm each display video, andthus, the user can correctly select the second video data to be stored.

In a case where the user looks in the finder 30 in a situation in whichthe intensity of the ambient light is high, such as a situation in whichexternal light is too strong, the display video of the display 31 ishardly viewed until the eye is adapted to darkness. In consideration ofthis, the display video is preferably displayed on the display 31 when agiven time elapses after the user looks in the finder 30. Alternatively,as in the first embodiment, the lightness of the display video displayedon the display 31 may be adjusted depending on the intensity of theambient light (that is, the gradation value indicated by the secondvideo data may be corrected depending on the intensity of the ambientlight).

In the second embodiment, the second video data corresponding to thedisplay video selected by the user among the nine display videos isstored. With this, the second video data to be stored can be determinedfrom among a plurality of pieces of second video data while reflectingthe user's intention, and thus, user's convenience is improved.

As described above, in the acquisition step S051 of the secondembodiment, a plurality of pieces of first video data with differentexposure conditions may be acquired. In this case, in the display stepS053, a plurality of display videos based on a plurality of pieces offirst video data with different exposure conditions may be displayed onthe display 31 along with the nine display videos. The display videobased on each of a plurality of pieces of first video data is a videothat is displayed on the display 31 corresponding to display dataobtained by executing predetermined conversion processing on each pieceof first video data acquired before and after the change of the exposureconditions and creating data for display (display data).

As described above, the display videos corresponding to the second videodata and the display video based on the first video data after thechange of the exposure conditions are displayed on the display 31together, whereby the user can compare the display videos. With this,the user can confirm the effect of the correction with differentcorrection amounts and the effect of the change of the exposureconditions at the same time. As a result, the user can determine whetheror not the change of the exposure conditions is more effective than thegradation correction, upon securing the clearness of a video.

In the second embodiment, a plurality of modes (display modes) in whichthe nine display videos are displayed on the display 31 in the displaystep may be prepared.

A first display mode is, for example, a mode in which the nine displayvideos are arranged and displayed simultaneously in a matrix (one screendisplay) as shown in FIG. 23 . In the mode, a display size per displayvideo is small.

A second display mode is, for example, a mode in which a part of thenine display videos is displayed on the display 31. The number of videosto be displayed in the mode is not particularly limited, and forexample, as shown in FIG. 24 , two display videos may be displayed onthe display 31 together. Here, one of the two display videos may be setas a display video corresponding to the second video data on which thecorrection is executed, and the other display video may be set as adisplay video (that is, a display video for reference) corresponding tothe second video data on which the correction is not executed.

In the second display mode, the display videos displayed on the display31 may be switched in response to a switching operation of the user. Forexample, each time the switching operation is performed, the displayvideo corresponding to the second video data on which the correction isexecuted may be switched. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24 , switchingmay be performed to a display video with a different correction amountfrom a previous display video.

A third display mode is, for example, a mode in which, among the ninedisplay videos, a display video corresponding to the second video dataon which first correction is executed and a display video correspondingto the second video data on which second correction is executed aredisplayed on the display 31 separately. Here, one of the first gradationcorrection and the second gradation correction corresponds to the firstcorrection, and the other gradation correction corresponds to the secondcorrection.

A flow in a case where the display videos are displayed in the thirddisplay mode will be described referring to FIG. 25 . Hereinafter,description will be provided assuming that the second gradationcorrection is the first correction and the first gradation correction isthe second correction. The contents described below can also be appliedto a case where the first gradation correction is the first correctionand the second gradation correction is the second correction.

In the third display mode, the creation step includes a first creationstep S062 and a second creation step S066. In the third display mode,the display step includes a first display step S063 and a second displaystep S067, and the selection reception step includes a first selectionreception step S065 and a second selection reception step S068.

In the third display mode, after the acquisition step S061 is executed,the first creation step S062 is executed. In the first creation stepS062, a plurality of first corrections are executed on the first videodata with different correction amounts, and two or more pieces ofsecond-A video data are created. Specifically, the first correction isexecuted with a correction amount in three stages (for example, acorrection amount of +2, +1, and −1 to the dark portion), and threepieces of second-A video data are created. The second-A video data isdata that belongs to the second video data.

Thereafter, the first display step S063 is executed, and in the step,three display videos corresponding to the three pieces of second-A videodata are displayed on the display 31. The display videos displayed inthe first display step S063 include a video in which the gradation valueis corrected by the first correction, for example, a video in which thevalue of the first gradation portion is changed. In this case, thedisplay video for reference on which the correction is not executed maybe displayed.

The reminder step S064 is executed during or before the execution of thefirst display step S063, and the user uses the finder 30 with thereminder step S064 as a trigger. Thereafter, the first selectionreception step S065 is executed, and in a case where the user selectsone of two or more display videos displayed on the display 31, theprocessor 40 receives a selection result.

Incidentally, the first selection reception step S065 is executed duringthe execution of the first display step S063, and thus, the displayvideo selected in the first selection reception step S065 corresponds tothe display video selected in the first display step S063.

After the execution of the first selection reception step S065, thesecond creation step S066 is executed. In the second creation step S066,two or more pieces of second-B video data are created based on theselection result received in the first selection reception step S065.Specifically, the first correction is executed on the first video datawith a correction amount selected by the user, and the second correctionis executed with a correction amount in three stages (for example, acorrection amount of +2, +1, and −1 to the bright portion), wherebythree pieces of second-B video data are created. Here, the correctionamount selected by the user is the correction amount of the firstcorrection executed in creating the second-A video data corresponding tothe display video selected in the first display step S063.

The second-B video data is data that belongs to the second video data.

After the execution of the second creation step S066, the second displaystep S067 is executed, and in the step, three display videoscorresponding to the three pieces of second-B video data are displayedon the display 31. The display videos displayed on the second displaystep S067 include a video in which the gradation value is corrected bythe first correction and the second correction, and in detail, a videoin which the value of each of the first gradation portion and the secondgradation portion is changed. In this case, the display video forreference on which the correction is not executed may be displayed.

The second selection reception step S068 is executed during theexecution of the second display step S067, and in a case where the userselects one of two or more pieces of display videos displayed on thedisplay 31, the processor 40 receives a selection result.

Incidentally, the second selection reception step S068 is executedduring the execution of the second display step S067, and thus, thedisplay video selected in the second selection reception step S068corresponds to the display video selected in the second display stepS067.

In a case where the user presses the release button 25 after theexecution of the second selection reception step S068, the storage stepS069 is executed. In the storage step S069, the second-B video datacorresponding to the display video selected in the second display stepS067 is stored in the internal memory 50, the memory card 52, or thelike. That is, the video data stored in the storage step S069 is thesecond video data that is created by executing the first correction andthe second correction on the first video data with the correction amountselected by the user.

As described above, in the third display mode, first, the firstcorrection with different correction amounts is executed on the firstvideo data to create a plurality of pieces of second-A video data. Then,the display videos corresponding to the respective pieces of second-Avideo data are displayed on the display 31, and the user is made toselect one of the display videos. Thereafter, the first correction andthe second correction are executed on the first video data to create aplurality of pieces of second-B video data. Then, the display videoscorresponding to the respective pieces of second-B video data aredisplayed on the display 31, and the user is made to select one of thedisplay videos. The display videos are displayed on the display 31 in astepwise manner while changing the type of the correction, whereby thenumber of videos displayed on the screen of the display 31 at one timeis reduced, and the visibility of the display video is improved. Thedisplay videos are displayed in a stepwise manner while changing thetype of the correction, whereby the user can select the display video ina stepwise manner for each type of correction, and thus, user'sconvenience is improved.

In the third display mode, in a case where the release button 25 ispressed after the execution of the second selection reception step S068,in the storage step S069, the second-B video data corresponding to thedisplay video selected during the execution of the second display stepS067 is stored.

On the other hand, for example, in a case where the release button 25 ispressed in a period from after the execution of the first selectionreception step S065 until before the execution of the second selectionreception step S068, the storage step may be executed at that time. Inthe storage step of this case, for example, the second-A video datacorresponding to the display video selected in the first selectionreception step S065 is preferably stored.

A fourth display mode is, for example, a mode in which differentportions in the respective nine display videos are displayed on thedisplay 31 on a magnified scale as shown in FIG. 23 . The differentportions are portions in the display videos where the gradation value isdifferent among the nine pieces of second video data, and simply,correspond to, for example, the first gradation portion on which thefirst gradation correction is executed and the second gradation portionon which the second gradation correction is executed.

In the fourth display mode, the visibility of portions (that is, thedifferent portions) in the display videos where the gradation value isdifferent between the second video data is improved. As a result, theuser can appropriately recognize the effect of the correction on thegradation value of the different portion by viewing the differentportions displayed on a magnified scale.

In a case where the different portion displayed on a magnified scale inthe display video is a portion designated by the user, it is preferablesince user's convenience is improved. The designation of the differentportion by the user is preferably performed through the select button26, the touch panel 27, or the like during or before the execution ofthe display step S053. The user may designate a plurality of differentportions in one display video, and in this case, each of a plurality ofdesignated different portions may be displayed on the display 31.

Although the four display modes have been described above, display modesother than the above-described modes may be further included. In thevideo display flow in the second embodiment, any of the four displaymodes described above or two or more modes may be used in combination.In a case where the two or more display modes are combined, preferably,the display modes to be used can be suitably changed. For example, in acase where the first display mode and the second display mode describedabove are used in combination, the user may perform a predetermined modeswitching operation while the display videos are displayed on thedisplay 31 in the first display mode, such that the display mode may beswitched to the second display mode. That is, the state of the display31 may transit from a state in which the nine display videos arearranged and displayed in a matrix to a state in which the two displayvideos are displayed.

Other Embodiment

The embodiments described above are specific examples exemplified forease of understanding of the display method and the display apparatus ofthe invention and are merely examples, and other embodiments are alsoconsidered.

In the above-described embodiments, although a digital camera with anEVF is exemplified as an example of the imaging apparatus configuringthe display apparatus of the invention, the display apparatus of theinvention may be other imaging apparatuses with an EVF (for example, avideo camera and a smartphone).

In the embodiments described above, the processor 40 in an imagingapparatus body (a portion other than the finder 30 in the imagingapparatus 10) performs the execution of the correction, and in detail,the creation of the video data and the display data indicating thecorrected output value. However, the invention is not limited thereto,and for example, a circuit for correction (corresponding to an exampleof a processor) provided in the finder 30 may be provided separatelyfrom the processor 40 of the imaging apparatus body. In this case, thecircuit for correction may create the video data and the display dataindicating the corrected output value, and may display the videocorresponding to the created data on the display 31.

In the embodiments described above, the storage device that stores thevideo data is provided in the imaging apparatus 10. However, theinvention is not limited thereto, and for example, an external terminal,a server computer, or the like connected to the imaging apparatus 10 ina communicable manner may be used as a storage device, and video datamay be stored in the storage device.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

-   -   10: imaging apparatus    -   12: imaging lens    -   14: connection portion    -   16: stop    -   18: shutter    -   20: imaging element    -   22: rear display    -   24: operating unit    -   25: release button    -   26: select button    -   27: touch panel    -   30: finder    -   31: display    -   32: observation optical system    -   33: eyepiece frame    -   34: sensor    -   40: processor    -   42: control processing unit    -   44: video creation unit    -   45: A/D conversion circuit    -   46: video data acquisition circuit    -   47: display data creation circuit    -   48: first video data acquisition circuit    -   49: second video data creation circuit    -   50: internal memory    -   52: memory card

What is claimed is:
 1. A display method using a display apparatusincluding a sensor configured to detect intensity of ambient light and afinder provided with a display inside, the display method comprising: anacquisition step of acquiring video data by imaging under the ambientlight; a creation step of creating display data based on the video data;and a display step of displaying a display video corresponding to thedisplay data on the display, wherein, in a case where the intensity ofthe ambient light is equal to or greater than a first threshold value,the creation step or the display step is executed under a firstcondition that lightness of the display video displayed on the displayis brighter than lightness of a first standard video, in a case wherethe intensity of the ambient light is equal to or less than a secondthreshold value, the creation step or the display step is executed undera second condition that the lightness of the display video displayed onthe display is darker than lightness of a second standard video,wherein, before a usage time for which a user uses the finder reaches aset time, the creation step or the display step is executed under thefirst condition or the second condition, and wherein, after the usagetime reaches, the creation step and the display step are executedwithout the first condition and the second condition.
 2. The displaymethod according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the intensity ofthe ambient light is equal to or less than the second threshold value,the creation step is executed under the second condition, and the secondstandard video is a video that is displayed on the display correspondingto display data created based on video data acquired by imaging underthe ambient light with intensity exceeding the second threshold value.3. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the display video isdisplayed on the display in a case where a distance between a user andthe display apparatus is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.4. The display method according to claim 1, wherein the display dataindicates an output value with respect to an input gradation valueindicated by the video data, the input gradation value is defined withina numerical value range including a first gradation value, a secondgradation value, and a median value between the first gradation valueand the second gradation value, in the creation step, first display dataand second display data that are different in the output value withrespect to the input gradation value closer to the first gradation valueor the second gradation value than the median value are created as thedisplay data, and in the display step, a display video corresponding todata selected based on the intensity of the ambient light between thefirst display data and the second display data is displayed on thedisplay.
 5. The display method according to claim 1, wherein, in thecreation step, correction corresponding to the intensity of the ambientlight is executed on an output value with respect to an input gradationvalue indicated by the video data to create the display data indicatinga corrected output value, and a correction amount to the output value inthe creation step is changed depending on a distance between a user andthe finder or lightness in the finder.
 6. The display method accordingto claim 1, wherein, in the creation step, correction corresponding tothe intensity of the ambient light is executed on an output value withrespect to an input gradation value indicated by the video data tocreate the display data indicating a corrected output value, anduncorrected display data indicating the output value on which thecorrection is not executed is created, and in the display step, thedisplay video corresponding to the display data indicating the correctedoutput value and the display video corresponding to the uncorrecteddisplay data are displayed on the display together.
 7. The displaymethod according to claim 1, wherein the video data indicates an inputgradation value of each portion of an angle of view at the time ofimaging, in a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal toor greater than the first threshold value, the creation step is executedunder the first condition, in a case where a first gradation portion inthe angle of view where the input gradation value is equal to or lessthan a first reference value has a predetermined width or more, in thecreation step, first gradation correction for increasing an output valuewith respect to the input gradation value of the first gradation portionis executed to create the display data, and a correction amount in thefirst gradation correction is greater as a difference between the inputgradation value of the first gradation portion and the first referencevalue is greater.
 8. The display method according to claim 1, whereinthe video data indicates an input gradation value of each portion of anangle of view at the time of imaging, in a case where the intensity ofthe ambient light is equal to or less than the second threshold value,the creation step is executed under the second condition, in a casewhere a second gradation portion in the angle of view where the inputgradation value is equal to or greater than a second reference value hasa predetermined width or more, in the creation step, second gradationcorrection for decreasing an output value with respect to the inputgradation value of the second gradation portion is executed to createthe display data, and a correction amount in the second gradationcorrection is greater as a difference between the input gradation valueof the second gradation portion and the second reference value isgreater.
 9. The display method according to claim 1, wherein, in a casewhere the intensity of the ambient light is equal to or greater than thefirst threshold value, the creation step is executed under the firstcondition, and the first standard video is a video that is displayed onthe display corresponding to display data created based on video dataacquired by imaging under the ambient light with intensity less than thefirst threshold value.
 10. The display method according to claim 9,wherein, in a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal toor less than the second threshold value, the creation step is executedunder the second condition, and the second standard video is a videothat is displayed on the display corresponding to display data createdbased on video data acquired by imaging under the ambient light withintensity exceeding the second threshold value.
 11. A display apparatuscomprising: a processor; a sensor configured to detect intensity ofambient light; and a finder provided with a display inside, wherein theprocessor is configured to acquire video data by imaging under theambient light, create display data based on the video data, and displaya display video corresponding to the display data on the display, theprocessor is configured to create the display data or display thedisplay video under a first condition that lightness of the displayvideo displayed on the display is brighter than lightness of a firststandard video in a case where the intensity of the ambient light isequal to or greater than a first threshold value or the processor isconfigured to create the display data or to display the display videounder a second condition that the lightness of the display videodisplayed on the display is darker than lightness of a second standardvideo in a case where the intensity of the ambient light is equal to orless than a second threshold value, wherein, before a usage time forwhich a user uses the finder reaches a set time, the processor isconfigured to create the display data or to display the display videounder the first condition or the second condition, and wherein, afterthe usage time reaches, the processor is configured to create thedisplay data and to display the display video without the firstcondition and the second condition.
 12. A display method using a displayapparatus including a finder provided with a display inside, the displaymethod comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring first video data byimaging; a creation step of creating a plurality of pieces of secondvideo data indicating different gradation values based on the firstvideo data; a display step of displaying a plurality of display videoscorresponding to the plurality of pieces of second video data on thedisplay; a reminder step of reminding a user of usage of the finder in acase of displaying the plurality of display videos on the display; and astorage step of storing the second video data corresponding to a displayvideo selected by the user from among the plurality of display videos,in a storage device.
 13. The display method according to claim 12,wherein, in the acquisition step, a plurality of pieces of the firstvideo data with different exposure conditions are acquired, and in thedisplay step, a plurality of the display videos based on the pluralityof pieces of first video data with different exposure conditions aredisplayed on the display together.
 14. The display method according toclaim 12, wherein, in a case where a distance between the user and thedisplay apparatus is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, thedisplay video is displayed on the display.
 15. The display methodaccording to claim 12, wherein the plurality of pieces of second videodata include second video data in which correction is executed on agradation value indicated by the first video data, in the creation step,the second video data in which first gradation correction is executed ona gradation value equal to or less than a first reference value in thefirst video data and the second video data in which second gradationcorrection is executed on a gradation value equal to or greater than asecond reference value in the first video data are created, and in thedisplay step, a display video corresponding to the second video data onwhich the first gradation correction is executed and a display videocorresponding to the second video data on which the second gradationcorrection is executed are displayed in parallel on the display.
 16. Thedisplay method according to claim 15, wherein, in a case where one ofthe first gradation correction and the second gradation correction isfirst correction, and the other gradation correction is secondcorrection, the creation step includes a first creation step and asecond creation step, the display step includes a first display step anda second display step, in the first creation step, two or more pieces ofsecond-A video data on which a plurality of the first corrections withdifferent correction amounts are executed are created, in the firstdisplay step, two or more display videos corresponding to the two ormore pieces of second-A video data are displayed on the display, in thesecond creation step, two or more pieces of second-B video data on whichthe first correction executed in creating the second-A video datacorresponding to the display video selected in the first display stepand a plurality of the second corrections with different correctionamounts are executed are created, in the second display step, two ormore display videos corresponding to the two or more pieces of second-Bvideo data are displayed on the display, and in the storage step, thesecond-B video data corresponding to the display video selected in thesecond display step is stored in the storage device.
 17. The displaymethod according to claim 12, wherein, in the display step, differentportions where a gradation value is different between the plurality ofpieces of second video data in the display videos are displayed on thedisplay on a magnified scale.
 18. The display method according to claim17, wherein, in the display step, the different portions designated bythe user are displayed on the display on a magnified scale.
 19. Adisplay apparatus comprising: a processor; and a finder provided with adisplay inside, wherein the processor is configured to acquire firstvideo data by imaging, create a plurality of pieces of second video dataindicating different gradation values based on the first video data, anddisplay a plurality of display videos corresponding to the plurality ofpieces of second video data on the display, and the processor isconfigured to remind a user of usage of the finder in a case ofdisplaying the plurality of display videos on the display, and store thesecond video data corresponding to a display video selected by the userfrom among the plurality of display videos, in a storage device.
 20. Adisplay method using a display apparatus including a sensor configuredto detect intensity of ambient light and a finder provided with adisplay inside, the display method comprising: an acquisition step ofacquiring video data by imaging under the ambient light; a creation stepof creating display data based on the video data; and a display step ofdisplaying a display video corresponding to the display data on thedisplay, wherein, in a case where the intensity of the ambient light isequal to or greater than a first threshold value, the creation step orthe display step is executed under a condition that lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display is brighter than lightness of afirst standard video, in a case where the intensity of the ambient lightis equal to or less than a second threshold value, the creation step orthe display step is executed under a condition that the lightness of thedisplay video displayed on the display is darker than lightness of asecond standard video, wherein, in the creation step, correctioncorresponding to the intensity of the ambient light is executed on anoutput value with respect to an input gradation value indicated by thevideo data to create the display data indicating a corrected outputvalue, and wherein a correction amount to the output value in thecreation step is changed depending on a distance between a user and thefinder or lightness in the finder.